Editing Pioneer 11 (section)

===History===
Approved in February 1969, ''Pioneer 11'' and its twin probe, ''[[Pioneer 10]]'', were the first to be designed for exploring the [[outer Solar System]]. Yielding to multiple proposals throughout the 1960s, early mission objectives were defined as:
* Explore the [[interplanetary medium]] beyond the orbit of Mars
* Investigate the nature of the asteroid belt from the scientific standpoint and assess the belt's possible hazard to missions to the outer planets.
* Explore the [[Atmosphere of Jupiter|environment of Jupiter]].

Subsequent planning for an encounter with Saturn added many more goals:
* Map the [[magnetic field]] of Saturn and determine its intensity, direction, and structure.
* Determine how many electrons and protons of various energies are distributed along the trajectory of the spacecraft through the Saturn system.
* Map the interaction of the Saturn system with the [[solar wind]].
* Measure the temperature of Saturn's atmosphere and that of Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn.
* Determine the structure of the upper atmosphere of Saturn where molecules are expected to be electrically charged and form an ionosphere.
* Map the thermal structure of [[Atmosphere of Saturn|Saturn's atmosphere]] by infrared observations coupled with [[radio occultation]] data.
* Obtain spin-scan images of the [[Saturnian system]] in two colors during the encounter sequence and polarimetry measurements of the planet.
* Probe the ring system and the atmosphere of Saturn with S-band radio occultation.
* Determine more precisely the masses of Saturn and its larger satellites by accurate observations of the effects of their gravitational fields on the motion of the spacecraft.
* As a precursor to the [[Voyager Program|Mariner Jupiter/Saturn mission]], verify the environment of the ring plane to find out where it may be safely crossed by the Mariner spacecraft without serious damage.{{sfn|Fimmel|Swindell|Burgess|1974|p=19}}

''Pioneer 11'' was built by [[TRW Inc.|TRW]] and managed as part of the [[Pioneer program]] by [[NASA Ames Research Center]].{{r|Status}} A backup unit, [[Pioneer H]], is currently on display in the "Milestones of Flight" exhibit at the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]{{r|smithsonian1}} Many elements of the mission proved to be critical in the planning of the [[Voyager program|''Voyager'' program]].{{sfn|Burrows|1990|pp=266–268}}

<gallery mode=packed heights=180px>
File:Pioneer_10_systems_diagram.svg|''Pioneer 10'' and ''Pioneer 11'' spacecraft diagram
File:NASM-NASM2016-00083.jpg|Reconstructed full-scale mock-up Pioneer 10 / 11 spacecraft at the [[National Air and Space Museum]]
File:NASM-NASM2016-00089.jpg|Side view of the spacecraft
File:CAPE KENNEDY, Fla (KSC-73P-0116).jpg|''Pioneer 11'' during the installation of its protective shroud
</gallery>